17 comments:

In my opinion, this and the Jay Ward cartoons are much more enjoyable than most of the stuff we have today, precisely for those reasons. Good voice acting and good character designs can make all the difference.

Maybe one day the bigshots will discover that you don't need billions of dollars to make something awesome. Half of the commercials for new CG movies are telling you what big celebrity is doing the voices. Holy crap! Rene Zellweger's voice?!? Now that's entertainment!

By the way John, I've been doing more Preston Blair stuff and copying some old Disney model sheets. I really concentrated on trying to get the perspective and angles and crap like you told me, so could you check it out? Thanks! They're at www.holyshenanigans.blogspot.com

Cartoony voices can help strengthen the cartoon, but it's really hard to find voicework in the modern day that are original without resorting to bland human tones or just copying lots of the stock voices from the 40s-50s. Anyone here look for reference in voicework?

I myself just leave my radio alarm on during Saturday mornings and listen to the local reverend give the most passionate god speeches I've ever heard, and I'm not even religious. The radio used to be a good source, but it's all to rare to find strong voices on it these days.

Great Ramjet post! Ramjet really breaks down the cartoon formula to the bare minimum but still pulls it off. Great voice talent goes a long way. I always thought the Genie from Aladdin was really great for that reason. I mean of course, when Robin Williams isn't being depressed and is actually his normal insane self. :)

Also, more drawings for you to check out John if you get the chance. Thx.

It's cartoons like Ramjet that prove beyound a shadow of adoubt that a cartoon is only limited by the cartoonist's imagination, not the budget. By the way John, I am surprised you aknowledged Tex Avery's 100th birthday.

Gary Owen had a great mock "radio" voice. Problem (if there was a problem) was that he was getting a tremendous amount of voice work in the 60's - not to mention tons of prime time tv. So his voice was a little overexposed during that time, like so many of the other great voices at the time. I'm thinking of the voices for Boris and Natasha for example. That's all you ever heard back then.

ah I loved Roger Ramjet! I think it was the Plane he flew with the little wheels poking out the bottom of them. It was a while ago now, so I barely remember the scripts, but the blokes voice for Rog was classic! I loved the whole show because of that ;)